The Hindu : Front Page : Campaign to end today for Thiruvambadi byelection

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 02, 2006
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Campaign to end today for Thiruvambadi byelection

Special Correspondent

Achuthanandan, A.K. Antony attend election meetings

LAST-DITCH BID: Defence Minister A.K. Antony campaigning for the UDF candidate in the Thiruvambadi constituency in Kozhikode on Friday. Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup (see also Page 4)

KOZHIKODE: Defence Minister A. K. Antony campaigned for United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate V. M. Ummer for the Thiruvambadi byelection on Friday.

Campaign of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) was also in full pitch, with Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan addressing a series of meetings. The front took out processions of party supporters in villages.

Mr. Antony addressed meetings, along with leaders of other constituents of the UDF, and urged voters to vote against LDF candidate George M. Thomas.

"A defeat for the LDF in this election is not going to bring down its Government. But it will be a strong warning to that Government to end its misrule in the six months it has been in power. What I will like you to do in this byelection is to bend the LDF Government, not break it," Mr. Antony said at a meeting in the evening at Pannikode.

He accused the Government of failing to keep its promise to bring relief to distressed farmers in Thiruvambadi and neighbouring Wayanad district.

The UDF leaders Oommen Chandy, K.M. Mani, Ramesh Chennithala, A.C. Jose, E. Ahamed, P. K. Kunhalikutty and T. M. Jacob were present.

The Communist Party of India leaders E. K. Vijayan and Sathyan Mokeri have been actively campaigning for the Left front, along with Pannian Ravindran, MP.

Supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Girish Thevally have been making their presence felt.

Electioneering is in its last phase, as the campaign will end at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Poll arrangements

Final touches are being given to arrangements for the smooth conduct of the polls on December 4.

Five companies of the Central Reserve Police Force and personnel of the Malabar Special Police and the Kerala Armed Police are being deployed.

Each polling booth will be manned by a head constable and three constables. As many as 80 woman constables are being posted. The law-and-order scene was reviewed at a meeting, presided over by District Collector B. Srinivas, at the Collectorate on Friday.

As many as 153 polling booths are being set up for the 1,60,984 voters. Digital cameras will record the proceedings in each booth.

Electronic voting machines, ballot papers, seals, ink, forms and other polling materials will be handed over to the employees on election duty at the Government polytechnic at West Hill from 7 a.m. on Sunday.

The District Collector directed the employees to report at the polytechnic for the purpose.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page